Chapter 67

Chapter 67

Two months passed.

It had already been half a year since I was thrown into this world.

While staying at Robin’s Temple, I was steadily familiarizing myself with the realm I had reached after becoming 3-Star.

[Are you not going to the Third Floor?]

‘I have to wait until Persica finishes preparing.’

To descend to the Third Floor, we had to defeat the Floor Boss, but since I was still an Apprentice, I could not participate in a Boss Expedition.

Because this required a Noble’s consent, Persica’s company was essential.

She was currently handling matters related to her family, as well as various minor Administrative Procedures.

Apparently, a Noble’s permission was not as simple as saying, “I am going on an expedition.”

I had heard that there were all sorts of procedures that had to be followed.

[You do not intend to find separate companions, do you?]

‘Why would I? Nothing is more troublesome than being the one in charge.’

This place was reality, after all, and managing even a single Expedition was by no means easy.

Renewing Adventurer ranks, handling minor taxes related to income, and all sorts of other paperwork……

It was quite bothersome, and I was not confident I could do it as skillfully as Persica.

I would probably be several times slower than we were now.

‘If I leave it to her, she takes care of everything on her own. Is there any need for me to step forward?’

[That is true, but still.]

For things like this, it was best to quietly ride along.

Of course, that did not mean we had completely lost contact. We exchanged letters every once in a while and kept each other updated.

Recently, I had heard that because she had been recognized as a 3-Star Adventurer together with me, her family’s interference had lessened considerably.

In other words, the restrictions on her activities had decreased.

‘And there is also something I need to consult her about.’

A way to enter the Secret Archive of Capella Observatory.

I had investigated it in my own way for now, but I had not found any suitable method.

Only those permitted by the master of the Observatory could access it…… and as I was now, let alone receiving permission, it was impossible even to meet that person.

Since there was a limit to what I could do, if there was no other way, I would have no choice but to talk to Persica.

She was the only hill I could lean on.

There was Jin Sohwi too, but…… that fellow was only reliable when it came to fighting.

‘In the meantime, I should focus on personal maintenance.’

While staying at Robin’s Temple, I concentrated on internalizing the realm I had built up so far.

In particular, the more I operated Myriad Currents Bond Cultivation, the more I realized that this Cultivation Method would not be easy to bring to Great Completion.

‘No, perhaps the very concept of Great Completion does not exist for it.’

A versatile Cultivation Method capable of responding to every situation.

Precisely because of that, Myriad Currents Bond Cultivation possessed endless potential for evolution.

Phantom Thunder Art and White Cloud Mind Method, which had been used as Catalysts, had now been completely devoured by Myriad Currents Bond Cultivation, to the point that I could use those Sword Methods without separately unfolding their Cultivation Methods.

In fact, while I was currently practicing Swordsmanship, I was not using any Cultivation Method other than Myriad Currents Bond Cultivation.

Whoosh! Slash!

White Cloud Sword Method and Secret Art: Ethrana.

Even though I alternated between the two forms of Swordsmanship, my movements did not tangle, nor did their power decrease.

Myriad Currents Bond Cultivation was perfectly covering both Sword Methods.

‘Theoretically, I can learn every Swordsmanship that exists in Ebla.’

The issue lay with the base Trait and Skill, but I could see a way to overcome that as well.

It was none other than the existence of Sword Aura.

‘If I used Sword Aura through Mysticism, I may be able to use other techniques too.’

It was not merely a matter of special moves.

Perhaps I could use ordinary techniques like Magic or Blessings through Mysticism as well.

“……Though for now, I have to master the abilities I already possess.”

Lastly, I unfolded Secret Art: Ethrana’s [Fix Blade].

The Swordsmanship of Chapter Two was close to a single Sword Dance, and each of these movements was like a blueprint for Sword Aura.

The moment Mysticism was operated and detonated according to that, Sword Aura manifested.

Fwoosh!

Deep violet Sword Aura covered the silver blade.

The Sword Aura flickering like flames was so beautiful that even I, its caster, found my gaze stolen by it.

However, I could not simply stand there admiring it, because the Mana consumption was truly extreme.

Even though I was operating the Mana of Pristine Power to its limit, I could feel my Mana being worn away in real time.

“……As expected, it is difficult to use for long.”

Maintaining it was difficult, and it still took a long time to draw out Sword Aura.

However, that was simply a problem caused by my lack of Mana Quantity and Proficiency.

At the very least, Mid-Stage 3-Star.

If I reached that level, I was confident I could master Sword Aura and aim for the next stage, the realm of “Sword Force.”

‘My current official Star Rank is Early-Stage 3-Star.’

If one judged only by simple Core Output, my realm was at the very beginning of 3-Star.

However, my true combat power, combining Secret Art: Ethrana and Myriad Currents Bond Cultivation, was comparable to 5-Star. If I learned Sword Force later, I would even be able to face 6-Star opponents.

[Truly…… It is hard to believe that it has only been half a year since you began training.]

Even Hyeollyeo was left speechless by my growth speed.

After all, even most Martial Talents took at least several years, and at longest their entire lives, just to emit Sword Aura.

But I still could not be satisfied.

“It is still not enough.”

No matter how much I had grown, compared to the monsters called Masters, I was still no more than a tiny creature.

The opponents I had to face while heading down into the Dungeon were monsters who could blow away mountains and overturn terrain with a single strike.

In order to resist them even minimally, I had to learn Aura as soon as possible.

‘Mid-Stage 3-Star. As soon as I master Sword Aura, I will move on to the next chapter of Secret Art: Ethrana.’

To be honest, I wanted to learn it immediately, but I felt that before that, I had to be able to use Chapter Two perfectly.

Since unfolding Chapter Two had also presupposed the operation of Chapter One, there was a high chance Chapter Three would be the same.

‘And the Authority of Awakening is still silent.’

Even after two months of training, the Fragment remained silent.

Since I did not know in what way this power would manifest, it would be better to avoid rushing into anything carelessly.

“Whew…… Shall I stop here for today?”

I lowered the hand holding my sword and wiped away my sweat.

I had been swinging my sword nonstop since morning, so my whole body was drenched in sweat.

[Is your training over? Then let us go out. I am curious about that amusement park!]

“We only go out to play on Rest Days.”

These days, Hyeollyeo had become completely absorbed in sightseeing outside.

She had already been quite interested in human civilization, and after I had shown her around the city a few times, she had been pestering me every day to go out.

[Can you not make an exception just once……?]

“No. I have a schedule too. Wait until the Rest Day.”

[There is only one Rest Day a week, so it is far too tantalizing…….]

Hyeollyeo drooped her antennae.

Ebla’s week had seven days just like Earth, but the Rest Day, in other words the weekend, was only Sunday.

“I will turn on the Video Sphere before bed.”

[Ooh, thank you.]

At times like this, the Video Sphere was what I used to soothe her.

I had obtained a few with introductory videos about Ebla stored inside…… Well, they were something like documentaries.

I found them boring enough to die, but Hyeollyeo watched them without noticing the passage of time.

‘They say children should not watch too much TV…….’

Did it not matter because Hyeollyeo was a centipede?

Then again, treating someone over seven hundred years old like a child was a little strange too.

After training, my schedule was to help Robin organize the Temple.

Cleaning, preparing meals, maintaining the Prayer Room, and so on. I had been helping Robin with his work since earlier on.

“Robin, I will help.”

“I am always grateful. Originally, this is work I could do alone, but……”

Robin’s Temple was located on the outskirts of Ebla, at the foot of the Snowy Mountain, so it was small and rarely visited.

The only people living there were Robin and me, and normally Robin lived alone.

That was also why he could manage the Temple by himself.

Even if I trained all day, Robin would take care of everything on his own, but I did not feel comfortable with that.

“I am doing it because I want to, so it is all right.”

Before coming here.

I had spent my entire life lying in a sickbed and living under someone else’s care.

Cleaning, cooking, and even washing myself had required someone else’s help.

So now, I wanted to do it myself.

The current me was healthy enough to do that.

I wanted to live diligently and sweat diligently.

“Thank you. Lord Isran, you would be perfect if only you woke up properly in the morning.”

……Of course, whether it was habit or something else, I could do nothing about my morning sleep.

Because I always overslept, it had now become part of daily life for Robin to overturn my bed whenever it was time to wake up.

Like this, my routine became training in the morning and during the day, then helping with Temple work from the afternoon onward.

Because of that, the occasional visitors found it fascinating that I, who was not even a Priest, helped with Temple work.

“By the way, Robin, do you not proselytize? I do not think I have ever received a suggestion to join the Order.”

“Faith has meaning only when it is held through one’s own will, not through someone else’s recommendation.”

He spoke while dusting the altar in the Prayer Room.

“Moreover, a person does not have to believe in a god in order to be good. Even if they do not believe in a god, if they practice their inherent goodness, that is enough.”

“Uh…… Really?”

“Of course. The Golden Rule will happily embrace such lambs as well.”

That man was probably too busy clinging to life to have the presence of mind to care for lambs.

Of course, since I was a person with tact, I did not say such blasphemous words aloud.

Robin…… Though he looked like that, he was frightening once he became angry……

“We have come for evening prayer.”

“Ah, hello, Brothers!”

By the time the cleaning was nearly done, a small number of people visited.

They were not Priests, but ordinary residents nearby.

Most of them were even female Devotees, and naturally, their goal was more to look at Robin than to pray.

“Robin, how old are you this year?”

“I am twenty-eight.”

“Are you married?”

“Ha ha. Regrettably, I am unmarried.”

The Golden Order was not particularly strict about marriage.

That was probably why even more people flocked to him.

Robin had a gentle impression and was handsome, after all.

“It seems you will be married soon. You are very popular.”

“Well. I do not think it is necessarily only because of me.”

“……?”

“It is nothing.”

In any case, while we were cleaning like that, Gordon visited the Temple.

“Good evening. I see you are helping with the Temple work again today.”

“Ah, Gordon! Welcome. It is just about time for dinner.”

It was a strange thing, but Gordon also came here whenever he did not have a mission.

Sometimes he would look over my Swordsmanship, and at other times he would simply rest.

His reason was that he liked how quiet it was.

Because of that, he had become quite close with Robin as well, and we occasionally gathered to eat together.

“Sir Gordon came today too……”

“What a feast for the eyes, what a feast~”

“Should I apply to this Temple? Is becoming a Priest very difficult……?”

Leaving aside the people who were completely absorbed in watching, Gordon called me.

“The reason I came today concerns Lady Persica. She has summoned you, Lord Isran. I will escort you.”

Was she finally planning to go to the Third Floor?

It had taken a little longer than expected.

‘But why call me to her house?’

After complaining so much about the Lift, was she finally planning to descend from the Royal Capital side this time?

I shook my head slightly and let out a sigh.

“I will go.”

Of course, our departure was the next day.

***

The next day.

Following Gordon, I arrived at the Ortanis mansion early in the morning.

“What exactly did she call me for?”

“I do not know the details either. I was only told to bring you.”

Even Gordon did not know the detailed circumstances.

A knight did not ask the reason behind his lord’s command, apparently.

As I quietly followed the guidance to Persica’s room, Persica, dressed in a gown, greeted me.

It was Persica’s princess mode, which I had not seen in a long while.

Since I normally only saw her in Adventurer clothes, I often forgot it, but seeing her like this made me feel anew that she truly was the daughter of a noble family.

“It has been a while, Isran. Hello to you too, Ishara.”

She did not forget to greet the sword at my waist as well.

The sword did not answer, but Persica seemed happy with just that and smiled faintly.

“It is unusual for you to call me all the way here.”

“……There were some circumstances.”

“Is it a problem with the Expedition?”

“No. All the preparations to go to the Third Floor are complete.”

“Then why did you call me?”

“That is……”

But when I asked why she had called me, Persica began to fidget.

“While I was talking about this Dungeon trip, your name came up. You were the only person who went down with me, after all.”

“I see.”

That was only natural.

Strictly speaking, Jin Sohwi had been there too, but that fellow could not come up to the surface.

But what did that have to do with this?

“And…… somehow, I ended up talking about the level of your training too……”

“Hmm…… To whom?”

“My father.”

Persica’s father would be…… Robert Ortanis.

Well, that much did not particularly matter.

Since he was a Great Noble, he probably would not have much interest in me, a mere Commoner.

Would he not simply remember me as a somewhat special Adventurer?

“Why are you dragging it out so much over something like that?”

“No, that is not the important part……”

“??”

“I-I tried my best to stop him, you see……”

Now even breaking into a cold sweat, Persica quietly avoided my gaze and said,

“Father……”

“Your father?”

“Father…… wants to see you.”

“He wants to see me, hm?”

Half a year after falling into Ebla.

I was summoned by my friend’s father, a Great Noble.